I​n August 2017, Elsa Sinclair will be traveling to Ireland to teach others her ground breaking horse training techniques.  In preparation of that clinic Free Fringe Festival will be screening Elsa's groundbreaking and critically acclaimed documentary 'Taming Wild' in our Cinema in the woods.

In 2015, Elsa Sinclair, a professional horse trainer, had an idea. She had found that although she was very successful with the horses she worked with, once she set them free, and gave them an option, the horse didn't always choose to do what she wanted.  This got her wondering, and she found a question began to to burn inside her. A question that had to be answered.

What if horses were given a choice? Would they let us ride them? Without force or tools to control, and without bribes to lure them?

Could she start with a wild horse, free and unfettered, develop a language with her, build a system of communication and convince this horse to allow her to ride, voluntarily?
Could she connect with this wild horse in a way so magnetic, beautiful and irresistible that force, tools and bribes were proven unnecessary?

Could this be done within a time limit? One year, start to finish, would this wild horse be won over and allow Elsa to ride? She didn’t know if it could be done, And she certainly didn’t know if it could be done within a year. Could she really leave behind all her training tools and preconceived notions and do something that was completely new?

This was a process that begged to be documented. And so, with the help of some amazing friends, She dove headlong into the project, followed by videographers, and photographers who helped her record it all.

This film is the journey of one wild mustang off the range, Myrnah, a horse with her own mind, strength and sense of independence. One trainer, no tools, just body language. The ups and downs, the trials and frustrations, and the beauty and persevering truths connection brings in its wake.

Taming Wild will be shown once a day during the Free Fringe Film Festival (21st - 23rd July) in our Cinema in the woods at Drumcoura, Leitrim.  To See screening times and the full Fringe Film Fest Schedule see: http://www.freefringefest.com/freefringefilmfest.html

 Instinctive Archery ( IA)
What is it? How does it work? 
From the moment you first opened your eyes, you started to learn to co-ordinate your body.  Vision combines with body and the other senses, and the mind learns the limits.  Actions are achieved initially with trial and error, and sometimes a lot of screaming! 
Then comes Pointing, ( i want).  Ever noticed when a child points, they are not looking down the arm at the desired object, but the finger is spot on target.  Depth perception develops almost at the same time, reaching for anything in range. 
In IA we look past a closed hand, ignoring the bow!

As a species, we have evolved from the hunter gatherer.  Like throwing a rock! You don't look at the rock but where you want it to hit!  Spear, Dart or Frying Pan, you keep throwing / swinging, till you hit.  The brain then remembers the parameters from the moment of release.

IA has progressed through thousands of years, giving a technique that uses minimum effort, for maximum consistent result.  It has taken minor changes in technique, as mechanics of the bow, and how the arrow is released is understood.
The instinctive method has remained, pretty much the same until recently.

Consistency and accuracy is down to the Archer, at the given moment of the shot, and understanding how the bow will perform under most conditions, (weather, heat, cold etc).  The bow becomes a part of the hand, an extension of the mind, in as much as the ridden bicycle is a part of the rider, and control is without conscious thought.  Anchoring the arrow to the face before release, gives the brain a consistent location for the muscle memory movements to reach the same point every time, and a baseline for instinctive adjustment.

With modern archery equipment. The archer is operating a piece of technology. Adapting the body to it. Not being a part of it, overriding the eyes and brains instinctive ability, and shutting it off.  As such the brain loses the ability to judge range, power, and conditions. The reliance being on restrictive components.

With IA, the mind does the work.  Putting the arms in the correct position, to place the arrow into the desired spot on the target, under an almost unlimited set of circumstances.

Want to take a taster lesson?
​Come find us in the Round Pen in the Main Yard at Free Fringe Festival, Drumcoura City, Leitrim July 21st - 23rd 2017.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ArtizanArchery/

Instinctive Archery, Keeping The Simplicity Safety

Although generally considered by most people as a sport, Archery is the controlled safe use of a Lethal Weapon, and as such there is no such thing as a 'Toy' bow.  If it can project an Arrow, it can cause injury, or even death.
​Be conscientious. BE SAFE

Love spoken word?  Join our Word Corner at Free Fringe Festival on Sunday 23rd July at the Parachute Tent​.  This is an event for all readers, writers and beat poets to come together in a relaxed atmosphere all for the love of words. where everyone is invited to share their own writing, the works of others, or just to sit back and basque in the beauty of words shared. Styles may be poetry, short story, song, rap, essays, plays, extracts from books or works in progress. The format is informal but structured so as to give each person adequate time to share their work and to allow for reflection or chat. 

Word Corner is a very popular free an informal evening event that is over 2 years in the running at The Dock Arts Centre in Carrick on Shannon on every second Tuesday of the month. Members of the group have also been involve in public readings at The Dock during annual events including Culture Night and National Poetry Day.

Sarah Wood 
0860885524

Free Fringe Festival presents Theatre Garden: a youth theatre event at the Parachute Stage on the Forest Trail on Saturday 22nd July from 12midday to 3.30pm. There will be four main time slots during the event which will include workshops for two age groups, rehearsals and on stage performances. This is a unique opportunity for young people to come play at performance in a natural environment and to share their creativity on stage for the general public. All public are welcome to support and enjoy the performances. 

Young people are welcome (Not Required) to bring any pre-prepared performance material or 'party pieces' they may wish to share. For example a short scene they have written or like, a song, short story, poem, dance piece, joke, etc. 

We recommend children wear appropriate clothing, bring a packed lunch, and all the willingness, enthusiasm and playfulness they've got! 

Please arrive 10-15 mins before your workshop time to sign in and secure your place. 
Participation consent forms must be signed by parent/guardian who must be contactable and available for their child at all times. 

12.00-12.45  Workshop for 14-18 year olds
13.00-13.45  Workshop for 8-13 year olds
14.00-14.40  Rehearsals for everyone performing 
14.40-15.30  Performances

This event will be facilitated by Sarah Wood, a local youth theatre professional, with a BA in Drama Performance from DIT, and currently a leader with the Leitrim Youth Theatre Company. 

In 2016 Sarah facilitated at the Holistic Kids Camp at Attirory Organic Garden. 
Holistic Kids Camp 2016 facebook page

Sarah Wood 
0860885524